Automatic box lock for drop-box looms



Aug. 11 1925.

J. D. GROVES AUTOMATIC BOX LOCK FOR DROP BOX LOON IS 2 Shets-Shaet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1924 FIB Aug. 11, 1925.

T554931 7 J. D. GRQVES- AUTOMATIC BOX LOCK FOR DROP BOX LOOMS Filed 001;. 16, 1924 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl I3 Eu o 43 L as 42 4 v m a 27 pll amnion: J 1: HM D ERnwas} Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

n rates PATNT FFMIE.

JOHN D. GROVES, OF MILLTO'WN, MAINE, ASSIGNOR F ONE-THIRD TO WINFIELLD Il- KEITH, OF MILLTOWN, MAINE.

AUTOMATIC BOX LOCK FOR DROP-BOX LOOMS.

Application filed October 16, 1924. Serial No. 743,969.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. Gaovns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milltown, in the county of Washington and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Box Looks for Drop-Box Looms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to drop box looms, and aims to provide an automatic shuttle box lock in order to hold the shuttle boxes in proper place on a level with the race plate during the time that the shuttle starts on its flight through the warp from the corresponding shuttle box, and also during the return of the shuttle into the box.

The present lock is for the purpose of overcoming the vibration and teetering of the shuttle boxes when changed from one cell or box to another and preventing the shuttles being thrown out of the loom, thereby increasing the life of the shuttles. Furthermore, the splintering and breaking of shuttles will be reduced, which results in less broken warp threads, better cloth and greater production. The lock is also intended to relieve the box motion of excessive jarring action during the operation of the loom, so as to make it a more smooth running machine, and the box motion will also have a greater life. The running time of the loom is also increased by reducing repairs and eliminating the flying out of shuttles. Furthermore, the loom can be run at a higher speed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the box loekshowing the shuttle boxes in side elevation. i

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the devlce, looking at right angles to the line of view in Fig. 1, and showing the device in unlocked position.

Fig. 3 is a View corresponding to Fig. 2 with the device in locked position.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged section on the line 4- l of Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Drop box looms are equipped with a set of superposed shuttle boxes carried by a box rod 11 which is raised and lowered for bringing the several boxes orcells on a level with the race plate, as well understood in the art. The rod 11 passes slidably through an apertured angularly extending terminal 12 of an arm 13 secured to a rock shaft 14, which is oscillated in the usual manner to swing the shuttle boxes back and forth. The shuttle boxes are raised and lowered by means of a link 15 actuated by a suitable mechanism, said link being pivotally connected with a collar 16 fitted on the lower terminal of the rod 11 between a pair of nuts 17 which are screw-threaded on the rod for purpose of adjustment so as to raise and lower the shuttle boxes with reference to the link 15. The parts described up to this point are used in drop box looms, and may be regarded as typical.

In carrying out the invention, the lock includes a bar 18 disposed at one side of and parallel with the rod 11, and attached to said rod. The lower end of the bar 18 has a collar 19 embracing the rod and disposed between the collar 16 and the upper nut 17, while the upper end of the bar 18 has a collar 20 fitted on the rod 11 and secured to said rod by a set screw 21. The bar 18 has a series of spaced notches 22, there being one notch for each shuttle box, and said notches being spaced according to the shuttle boxes. Said notches are for the engagement of a roller23 of a locking member or latch, so as to hold the rod 11 and shuttle boxes in their proper vertical position when the shuttle boxes have been positioned for the movement of the shuttle through the warp either away from or toward the shuttle boxes.

The locking member or latch comprises a lever 24: having the arm composed of the transversely spaced portions 25 pivoted, as at 26, to the terminals of a U-shaped bracket 27 fitting astride the arm 13 and secured l to said arm, as at 28. The portions 25 and terminals of the bracket 27 i are disposed at opposite sides of the rod 11 and bar 18, and the lever 24 has an opposite arm 29 which extends downwardly. The arm composed of the portions extends partly around the bar 18, and has an outwardly extending channel-shaped portion in which is fitted a slide 31 in which the roller 23 is mounted for rotation. A clamping bolt 33 is carried by the slide 31 and works in a slot 34 provided in the portion 30, whereby, when the bolt 33 is loosened, the slide 31 and roller 23 can be adjusted upwardly and down wardly, so as to position the roller to properly hold the box rod 11.

The locking member or latch is operated automatically by the forward and backward rocking movement of the shuttle boxes. or this purpose, a rod 35 is connected by a prvot element 36 with the arm 27, said arm having a slot 37 in which the pivot element can be adjusted to regulate the amount of swinging movement of the locking member with reference to the notched bar 18, and the rod 35 is composed of, two sections connected by a turn-buckle 38 in order that the rod can be lengthened and shortened for purpose of adjustment. Said rod 35 passes slidably through apertured lugs 39 and 40 earned by a plate 41 which is secured to the frame of the loom or other support. A bolt 42 is used for attaching the plate 41, and said plate has a slot 43 receiving said bolt, in order that the plate can be slid and turned to the desired position. The plate or member 41 is fixed or stationary when the bolt 42 is tight ened so that the movement of the arm13 and rod 11 toward and away from the plate 41 will, through the operative connection between the plate 41 and locking lever, operate said lever. A coiled spring 44 is disposed on the rod 35 and is confined between the lug 39 and a collar 45 secured on the rod 35 by a set screw 46. The lug 4O isintegral withthe plate 41, and the lug 39 is mounte'dfor turning movement and adjustment. Thus, the lug 39 has the shank 47 mounted for rotation in a tubular bolt 48 that isadjustable in a slot 49 provided in thepl'ate 41. Thus, the

lug 39 can turn to permit the rod 35 to 'oscillate, and said lug can be adjusted in the slot 49 to regulate the pressure of the spring 44.

After the several parts have been installed and adjusted, the device will then operate automatically.

When the shuttle box rod 11 is swung to the position as shown in Fig. 2, forthe verticalmove'ment of said rod tochange the position of the shuttle boxes, the lock is automatically opened. Thus, the collar 45 contacting with the lug 40 will limit the movement of the rod 35, thereby limiting the movement of the arm 27 of the lever 24, and said lever 24 is therefore swung relatively to the rod 11 and bar 18. This will remove the roller 23 from the corresponding notch of the bar 18, as seen in Fig. 2, so that the rod 11 is free to be moved vertically.

When the shuttle boxes are moved in the opposite direction, the lock is automatically closed. Thus, when the rod 11 moves towart the left, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the spring 44 resists the movement of the rod in the same direction, thereby resisting the movement of the arm 27. As a result, the lever 24 is swung relatively to the rod 11 and bar 18, so as to move the roller 23 into the registering notch of said bar, as seen in Fig. The rod 35 can be moved toward the left with the rod 11, after the roller 23 seats in the notch of said bar, the spring 44 being compressed by the movement of the collar 45 away from the lug 40. The spring 44 therefore resists the movement of the lever 24 in order to swing said lever to locking position, but said spring can yield to allow the rod 35 to move after the lock is closed.

The device will lock the rod 11 in any of its vertical positions, with said rod 11 swung to the position as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the shuttle travels through the warp either out of or into the shuttle box which is on a level with the race plate of the loom. lVith the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 3, the pressure of the spring 44 will hold the roller 3 tightly in the corresponding notch of the bar 18, thereby preventing vertical vibration of the shuttle boxes and accomplishing the objects sought.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 2- 1. In a mechanism of the character described, a member movable transversely and longitudinally, locking n'icans movable transversely with said member and adapted to lock said member against longitudinal movement, a stationary member, a member connected to the locking means and m'o'vably engaging the stationary member, and means between said stationary and thirdnamed members to limit the movement of the third named member relatively to the stationary member, to operate the locking means and lock and unlock the firstnamed member in different t-ansverse positions thereof.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, a member movable transversely and longitudinally, a locking member movable transversely with said member and arranged to lock said firstnamed member against longitudinal movement, a stationary member, a member connected'to the locking member and slidably engaging the stationary memher, and means between the stationary and fourthnamed members for limiting the sliding movement of the fourthnamed member relatively to the stationary member, to operate the locking member and lock and unlock the firstnamed member in different transverse positions thereof.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, an oscillatory member, a member adapted to oscillate therewith and slidable to different positions, locking means carried by the. oscillatory member and engageable with the slidable member for looking it in different positions, a stationary member, a rod connected to said locking means and slidable in the stationary member, and means between said rod and stationary member for limiting the movement of the rod in one direction and yieldingly limiting the movement of the rod in the opposite direc tion relatively to the stationary member, for operating the locking means and locking and unlocking the se condnamed member in different positions of the oscillatory member.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a member movable transversely and longitudinally, locking means movable transversely with said member and movable relatively to said member to lock said member against longitudinal movement, and means connected to said locking means for positively limiting the movement of the locking means in one direction and yieldingly limiting the movement of the locking means in the opposite direction when the locking means is moved transversely with said member, so as to move the locking means relatively to said member and lock and unlock said member in different transverse positions thereof.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, an oscillatory member, a member adapted to oscillate therewith and slidable to different positions, locking means carried by said members and operable to lock the sccondnamed member in diiierent positions, and means connected to said locking means for positively limiting the movement of the locking means in one direction and yieldingly limiting the movement of the locking means in the opposite direction when the locking means is moved with said oscillatory member so as to move the locking means relatively to the oscillatory and secondnamed members and lock and unlock the secondnamed member in different positions of the oscillatory member.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, an oscillatory member, a member adapted to oscillate therewith and slidable to different positions, a locking lever carried by the firstnamed member to engage the secondnamed member in different positions oi the secondnamed member to prevent sliding movement thereof, and means for limiting the movement of said lever in one direction and yieldingly resisting the movement of the lever in the other direction to swing the lever out of and into locking en-- gagement, respectively, with the secondnamed member, when the firstnamed member is oscillated.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, an oscillatory member, a member adapted to oscillate therewith and slidable to different positions, a locking lever carried by the first-named member to swing into and out of locking connection with the secondnamed member to prevent sliding movement of the se condnamed member in dilierent positions thereof when said locking lever is in locking position, a rod connected to said lever, a member in which said rod is slidable, means for limiting the sliding movement of said rod in one direction to swing said lever to locking position when the firstnamed memher is swung to one position, and spring means for yieldingly resisting the movement of said rod in the opposite direction to swing said lever to locking position when the lirstnamed member is moved to another position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailizi my signature.

JOHN D. GROVES. 

